Lighting appliance



Oct. 16, 1934. c. DOANE LIGHTING APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 3l, 1929 IIIIIII7451455555545,.

INVENTOR Leroy C. Od/ Bv W72. 40M

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1934 LIGHTING APPLIANCE Leroy C. Doane,Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, ration of ConnecticutMeriden, Conn., a corpo- Application December 31, 1929, Serial No.417,692

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to lighting appliances and is moreparticularly directed to lighting appliances and other electricalapparatus made up of separable units and wherein it is desirable tosimultaneously complete the electrical and mechanical connectionsbetween the various units.

As a specific example of an application of the invention, it will bediscussed with respect to the manufacture of floor and table lamps andsimilar portable articles provided with supports in the form of bases.The various parts of these lamps are made up in the form of completeunits, so designed as to be capable of interchangeable assembly. Thebases are provided with means to secure a current supply cord tosuitable terminals and these terminals are arranged concentric to oneanother. The intermediate parts are arranged for securement to the basesor to one another so that the electrical connections are made as themechanical assembly continues. The unit which is to carry the outlet(such as a lamp socket) is arranged to be received by the free end ofany of the other parts, and the conducting elements of all the variousparts are completely insulated from one another and from the outsidestructure.

Each of these units is complete of itself, and it is therefore possibleto ship, store and handle them as such, without being assembled withother units to make a complete lamp or other electrical appliance. It istherefore possible to obtain the many advantages not available as thesearts were practiced heretofore.

In my copending application Serial No. 417,691, led December 3l, 1929, Ihave discussed these advantages with respect to ease of shipping andhandling and the ability of providing the pur- Chaser with anexceedingly wide choice of complete articles (such as lamps) from astock consisting of a comparatively small number of parts of differentdesign.

It is therefore an object of this construction to provide a system ofinterchangeable parts bearing means for their mechanical interconnectionand the simultaneous completion of an electric circuit through the partsas they are secured together.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, one of the many embodiments in which it may take form, itbeing understood that the drawing is illustrative of the inventionrather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the component parts of a floor lamp;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the base or support for thefloor lamp;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views through a column, a rodand a break respectively;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a part of a socket carrier suchas a bridge arm; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the tubular receptacle for an innerconductor.

The support or base for a floor lamp is indicated at.10, a column at 11,a rod at 12, a break at 13, another rod at 14, and a socket carrier inthe form of a bridge arm at 15. These parts may be made up in varioussizes and lengths and may be variously ornamented and designed toproduce many forms of table and floor lamps, lighting fixtures, standsor supports for electrical apparatus, and other forms of electricalapparatus.

The lamp base 10 is provided with a central recess 01 opening 20 adaptedto receive a cupshaped body or housing 21. This housing is adapted to besecured in place in the base by threads indicated at 22 and may be heldagainst unloosening by a lock nut 22 or it may be cemented in place. Thelower end of the housing has an opening 23 to accommodate the currentsupply cord 24. The housing 21 has an internal shoulder or seat 25 andis internally threaded as indicated at 26.

A terminal block 27 is made of insulating material and is provided witha central tapped hole 28 for a screw 29. One of the conductors 30 of theduplex cord is bared and secured under the head of the screw 29. Theother conductor 31 passes through a hole 32 in the terminal block 27 andits bared end rests in a groove 33 in the terminal block.

The terminal block is held in place in the housing by a two-part sleeve34, 35. The part 34 of this sleeve is of insulating material and isprovided with threads to t the threads 26 in the housing. The inner part35 is of conducting material and is xedly secured to the outerinsulating part. When this threaded bushing is threaded down in place,the metal ring 35 is brought against the bared end of the conductor 31.The upper end of the screw 29 is turned down as indicated at 36.

In order that the base may have an outwardly projecting threaded member,an adapter 37 is employed. This adapter consists of a threaded nipple 38adapted to cooperate with the internal threads carried by the ring 35,and a Contact clip 39 received on the reduced end 36 of the centralscrew. An insulating liner 40 is carried by the nipple 38 and this linerhas a beveled or tapered opening 4l, as indicated.

The spring contact clip 39 is indicated more in detail in Fig. 7. It mayconsist of a rolled strip or brass or bronze emerged at its lower end39a to receive the upper end of the pin 36. The

upper end of the clip is reduced slightly as indicated at 39h and isoutwardly iiared as indicated at 39e. The clip is slipped over the pin36 and may be soldered to it if desired.

The standard 11 is indicated in detail in Fig. 3. It consists of anouter ornamental casting or the like having a central longitudinal holeindicated at 50. It has shoulders as indicated at 51 and 52. Thistubular member is adapted to carry the two conductorsfor a circuit. Oneof these conductors'is as indicated at 53 in the form of a length ofpipe threaded at both'ends. 'Ihe lower end 54 is threaded into a bushingor coupling 55, while the upper end 56 receives a threaded ring 57. Aninsulating ring 58 is placed between the ilange 59 of the coupling 55and the shoulder 51 on the tubular member 11. A similar insulating ring59 is placed between a iiange 61 on the ring 5 7 and the shoulder 52 onthe tubular member 11. The parts so far described are assembled asindicated, a considerable portion of the threaded end 56 projectingupwardly and a considerable portion of the lower part of the couplingmember 55 being open. These parts are machined accurately and securedtogether as tightly as possible to make them more rigid and to reducethe possibilities of accidental loosening.

The inner conducting member is indicated at 62. It is in the form of asuitable length of heavy gauge insulated copper wire. The lower end ofthe wire is bared as indicated at 63 and projects through an insulatingWasher 64 so as to be axially disposed inside the coupling member 55.The upper end of the wire is bared as indicated at 65 and carries acontact clip 66 similar to the contact clip 39. The upper end of thetubular member 53 carries an insulating liner 67 similar to the liner40. Where these columns are in the form of slush type castings, a paperor bre insulating tube 68 is placed outside the conducting parts.

The rod 12 shown in Fig. 4 diiers from the column 1l principally in thatthe outer shell of the rod is in the form of a sheet metal tube 70.Metal seating rings '71 and '72 are provided at the ends of the shell70. 'I'hese seating rings have shoulders 51 and 52 corresponding toshoulders 51 and 52 of the column. The outer parts of the rod are thesame as those of the column and the same reference characters areemployed. Instead of a fibre sleeve, bre disks 73 are used.

The break 13 shown in Fig. 5 is made up substantially the same as thecolumn except that it is much shorter. 'I'he outer part of the break mayconsist of a casting or turned member 75 and, as this member is short,the insulating sleeve may be omitted. 'I'he other parts are the same asThe parts in Fig. 6 corresponding with those in Fig. 2 are designated bythe same reference characters.

The various units which have been described may be manufactured completeand lamps or other electrical appliances assembled out of these parts,depending upon the design which is applied to the parts.

To assemble the floor lamp indicated in Fig. 1, it is merely necessaryto thread the column onto the base, then thread the rod'onto the column,the break onto the rod, and continue this threading-on process until allthe parts are assembled. This will structurally interconnect all theparte and will at the same time complete the electrical connections. Oneside of the line will include the bushing 35, the nipple 38 and thecoupling members 55 and pipes 53 of each unit until the uppermost unitis reached. Here the current will be conducted into the ring 35 of Fig.6 and through one of the conductors of the cord 77 to the load. Theother side of thel line will include the pins 36 and alternate clips 39and lengths of wire 82.

It will be apparent that the electrical connectors and rods or the like,above described, may be adapted for use in arts other than the lamp art.They may be employed generally wherever it is desired to provide aconcentric arrangement of conductors to permit the threading together oftwo conductor units. It is also obvious that the arrangement may beemployed in many locations wherein it is desirable to simultaneouslymake the electrical and mechanical connections between the various partsof an electrical device.

This arrangement also permits one to take advantage of the iiexibilityof design and the ease of handling and shipping which flow from thepossibility of shipping separate complete units which may be assembledin endless fashion to complete the article desired.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms andconstructions and I wish it to be understood that the particular formshown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changesbeing possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I claim:

1. The combination with a connector having an internally threaded,insulatedly supported conducting ring forming one terminal and anaxially disposed pin forming the other terminal, of an externallythreaded metallic nipple threaded into the ring and carrying aninsulating liner, and a tubular receptacle carried on the pin anddisposed within the liner, and a second connector having an internallythreaded tubular conductor within which is insulatedly supported aconducting pin axially disposed within the externally threaded conductorand adapted to enter the receptacle carried by the pin as the threadedconductor is threaded onto the nipple.

2. In an electrical appliance, a metallic support, a terminal housingcarried by the support, an insulator seated in an opening in thehousing, a current supply cord having a conductor secured to a centralpin carried by the insulator and extending in a direction opposite thecord and a second conductor extending through the insulator, and aninternally threaded ring secured inside the housing and held against thesecond conductor.

3. In an electrical appliance, a metallic support, a terminal housingcarried by the support, an insulator seated in an opening in thehousing, a current supply cord having a conductor secured to a centralpin carried by the insulator and extending in a direction opposite thecord and a second conductor extending through the insulator, aninternally threaded ring secured inside the housing and held against thesecond conductor, a sleeve carried by the end of the pin, and aninsulatedly lined, externally-threaded bushing carried inside thethreaded ring.

4. In an electrical appliance, a metallic support, an internallythreaded terminal housing carried by the support, an insulator seated inan opening in the housing, a current supply cord having a conductorsecured to a central pin carried by the insulator and extending in adirection opposite the cord and a second conductor extending through theinsulator, and an externally threaded insulating ring threaded onto thehousing and carrying an internally threaded conducting ring which bearsagainst the second conductor.

5. A terminal assembly for electrical appliances comprising a housinghaving a large opening at one end, a reducing shoulder and a cordreceiving opening in the opposite end, an insulating terminal blockcarried entirely Within said housing and resting against the shoulderand having a central binding screw for one conductor of a duplex cordand an aperture to accommodate the other conductor wherebyit may bepassed through the block to bring the end thereof against the oppositeface of the block, and an insulatedly supported internally threadedmetallic ring secured in the housing and adapted to bear on the secondconductor.

6. A terminal assembly for electrical appliances comprising a housinghaving a threaded recess, a reducing shoulder and a cord receivingopening in the opposite end, an insulating terminal block carriedentirely within said housing and resting against the shoulder and havinga central binding screw for one conductor of a duplex cord and anaperture to accommodate the other conductor whereby it may be passedthrough the block to bring the end thereof against the opposite face ofthe block, and an externally threaded insulating ring threaded into thehousing and carrying an internally threaded conducting ring which bearsagainst the second conductor.

'7. A terminal assembly for electrical appliances comprising a housinghaving a large opening at one end, a shoulder and a cord receivingopening in the opposite end, an insulating terminal block restingagainst the shoulder and having a central binding screw for oneconductor of a duplex cord, and an aperture to accommodate the otherconductor whereby it may be passed through the block to bring the endthereof against the outer face of the block, an internally threadedmetallic ring secured in the housing and adapted to bear on the secondconductor, a sleeve carried externally by the end of the pin, and aninsulatedly lined, externally threaded bushing carried inside thethreaded ring.

8. In an electrical appliance, a metallic support having an internallythreaded housing having a shoulder beyond the threads, a. threadedmetallic bushing insulatedly supported in the housing, an axiallydisposed conducting pin supported on an insulator bearing on theshoulder and projecting toward the open end of the housing, a conductorextending through the insulator and contacting with the bushing.a secondconductor connected to the pin, and means for securing the partstogether and for clamping the insulator against theA shoulder.

9. In an electrical appliance, a metallic support having an internallythreaded housing having a shoulder beyond the threads, a threadedmetallic bushing insulatedly supported in the housing, an axiallydisposed conducting pin suping, a conductor extending through theinsulator and contacting with the bushing, a second conductor connectedto the pin, means for securing the parts together and for clamping theinsulator against the shoulder, the body having a passageway for wiresbeyond the shoulder, and wires connected to said conductors andextending through the passageway.

10. A base for self-wiring lamps or the like, comprising a body having avertical hole, an insulating member carried within the hole andsupporting an externally threaded tubular conducting member extendingabove the upper surface of the base, a tubular insulating liner insidethe tubular conducting member, the conducting member and liner beingopen at the top, a second tubular conducting member within the liner andaccessible through the opening in the top of the tubular conductingmember, an insulating support for the second tubular conducting memberand carried near the bottom of the hole in the body, and current supplywires connected with the conducting members and extending downwardlyunderneath the base.

11. A base for self-wiring lamps or the like, comprising a body having avertical hole provided with an internal shoulder, an insulating membercarried within the hole and supporting an externally threaded tubularconducting member extending above the upper surface of the base, atubular insulating liner inside the tubular conducting member, theconducting member and liner being open at the top, a second tubularconducting member within the liner and accessible through the opening inthe top of the tubular conducting member, an insulating support for thesecond tubular conducting member and carried near the bottom of `thehole in the body, current supply wires connected with the conductingmembers and extending downwardly underneath the base, and means forsecuring the insulating member in the hole in a position to bear 4on theinsulating support for the second conductor and clamp it against theshoulder.

12. An electrical connector comprising ahousing having an openingtherethrough, there being a reducing shoulder in the opening, aninsulator in the opening with its rear engaging the shoulder, aforwardly extending, axially disposed pin supported by the insulator andconnected to a rearwardly extending wire, an oi center contact carriedby the face of the insulator and connected to a second rearwardlyextending wire, a tubular conductor whose edge engages with the oficenter contact, and means for clamping the tubular conductor against thecontact and the insulator against the shoulder.

13. An electrical connector comprising a threaded housing having anopening therethrough, there being a reducing shoulder in the opening, aninsulator in the-opening with its rear engaging the shoulder, aforwardly extending, axially disposed pin supported by the insulator andconnected to a rearwardly extending wire, an off center contact carriedby the face of the insulator and connected to a second rearwardlyextending wire, a tubular conductor whose edge engages with the offcenter contact, an insulating ring enclosing the sides of the tubularconductor, and threaded means cooperating with the insulating ring forclamping the tubular conductor against the contact andthe insulatoragainst the shoulder.

LEROY c. DOANE.

